Tag: car repairs

Update

I’ve had the brakes on the car for a month and I have to say they have been better than I expected. I was worried about the break-in period. I wondered if they would seize or squeal. However, they felt perfect right off the bat. The brake pedal feels solid with no pulsations.

The brakes have a very slight squeal after 2,000 miles. It’s not bad and it only occurs once in a while.

I would highly recommend this brake upgrade. The final price for the parts from Amazon is about the same as getting replacement parts at the local Firestone or other repair shop.

Upgrade your Audi TT to high performance brakes

It’s time to replace the brakes on my 2001 TT Roadster. I’ve been thinking of upgrading from stock to some high-performance ceramic pads with slotted rotors. After doing a bunch of research I’ve decided to go for the EBC Red Stuff. They’ve got good reviews and should provide a big improvement in braking without excess dust and noise.

I’ve also been comparing prices and Amazon has a really good price. I’ll have Fred’s Garage in Redwood City install the big boys.

EBC Brakes DP3680C Redstuff Fast Street Disc Pad

EBC makes several sets of ceramic brake pads. The green set would be ok, but the red set is stronger and is recommended for the Quattro. It’s also going to require an adjustment period.

Redstuff has always been known for its low dust ability but the latest blend has greatly reduced the phenomenon of pad “Pick up” or disc scoring and reduced dust even further.Tested at the UK Motor Industries Research Association (MIRA) in witnessed tests early Redstuff reduced car stopping distance in tests by almost 50 feet from 100 MPH offering a staggering 30% brake improvement.

Redstuff however as a harder compound does take longer to fully bed in to achieve its highest levels of performance (can be up to 1500 miles/2500 Kms urban use) during which time the odd “Chirp” of brake noise may be heard when starting from cold in damp and cold conditions at walking pace speed.EBC Brakes

Front Pads

Rear Pads

Slotted rotors can significantly improve brake performance and longevity when used with a matching high friction pad set . Having sold hundreds of thousands of brake kits EBC Brakes feel confident their approach is as perfect as it gets.

We are of the opinion that slotted rotors have been “Over sold” by certain marketplace participants and our findings are that a slotted rotor will only give benefits if used with a pad that compensates for its reduced surface area. The benefits of degassing and promoting flat and smooth pad wear are a clear plus in favour of sport rotors but the trick is to opt for a matched set of brakes and not to just expect a slotted rotor to improve braking on its own.EBC Brakes

Rear Rotors

The Quattro requires the 10.1 inch rotors, which are a bit harder to find.